Page 42 of Stalked

“I can’t help if I don’t know what happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“What happened before he shut down?”

My cheeks heat, and I can feel the embarrassment clawing at my skin. When Salem smirks, I don’t even have to ask to know she always knows the truth.

“I’m not talking about how y’all violated my couch. Which for your information I have cameras everywhere, and I meaneverywhere.”

I swear if the ground could swallow me whole right here, right now, that would be my saving grace. My lungs fail, and my heart speeds up. If she has cameras, that means she must have seen…

“Zane told me. I didn’t see anything if that’s what you’re worried about,” Salem smirks, sipping her coffee.

I don’t relax, I’m not sure what’s worse if Salem caught or us the fact Zanedid.

“Can I tell you a little bit about Tobias?” she asks, leaning against the kitchen island. I may not have known Salem for long, but since the moment I met her, I know I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.

Nodding my head, I hold my empty coffee cup, willing whatever she’s about to tell me doesn’t freak me out and cause me to have a panic attack.

“I assume you know he grew up in the Mafia. His father is the Pakhan, his mother was somewhat kidnapped but also saved by his father.”

“Yeah, uh, he told me after we were attacked,” I mumble.

“He was loud, outgoing, and free spirited. When he was around ten, he saw his best friend getting beaten by his father. Tobias knew what his own father did, but he also knew that his father didn’t go after children and women. He has somewhat of a code he lives by, and when he found his friend being hurt by one of his father’s soldiers, he freaked out. He told me what happened, and well, I took care of him. But Tobias saw too much at too young of an age to understand that things happen behind closed doors that Dimitri, his father, didn’t know about. Tobias had a hard time accepting his father after that, and while he knew he was going to eventually take over for him, he also lost touch with reality. Tobias holds himself accountable for more than he should, and when every little thing goes wrong, even if it’s not his fault, he takes it out on himself.”

“What friend are you talking about?” I dare to ask. I have a feeling I know who he’s talking about.

“His enforcer.”

Kyler.

“I don’t think he likes me that much,” I blurt out. My eyes widen when I realize what I just said. Kyler never says much to me, but I can see the glares he gives me.

“Dimitri doesn’t like me. In fact, he tried killing me a few times, but that's a different story, for another time. The point is, it doesn’t matter if the others don’t like you. Tobias isn’t going to let any of them hurtyou, even if it’s his best friend. Right now, I think he’s just working on accepting the fact he’s into men and coming out to his father is racing through his head. But the fact he came out to Zane and me, and he didn’t hold back…it’s a good first step.” Salem smiles wide at me.

“Has Kyler hurt you?” Suddenly Tobias is at my side, gripping my chin possessively. Everything fades away; the air between us thickens. I hadn’t even realized he was here until now.

Shaking my head, Tobias tightens his grip.

“Enough of that bullshit. I asked you a question. You’re not one of my men who do as they're told without question. You’re a part of me and being a part of me means you question every little thing I do. It means my men respect you like they do me, and if they don’t, do you know what happens?”

I start to shake my head when he growls low in his throat.

“No,” I whisper, nervously racking my brain on what he’s going to say.

“I’ll kill them. I don’t care who it is, I’ll rip them apart, bathe in their blood. I don’t care if it’s my best friend, my father, any of them. You come first. You will always come first.”

I’m shaking my head, denying any of the words he’s saying to me. There's no way he can care for me that much. I’m no one, I’m nothing.

“Stop shaking your head.” I twist from his grip, nearly falling backwards off the bar stool. “I… I need some air.” I spin around, once again nearly tripping over my own feet.

“Gabriel!” Tobias shouts at me.

I don’t listen, racing through Salem's house. I don’t bother grabbing shoes or my coat. It’s not that cold. I have no idea what I’m doing, or where I’m even going. But I can’t face him. I’m not ready for him to know my worst fear. I’m not ready to see his face when I tell him and I’m surely not ready to lose him.

“Gabriel! Get back here right now!” I hear Tobias somewhere behind me.

“Just give me some time!” I scream back.

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